Former President Joe Biden has begun a new round of treatment after his office confirmed that his prostate cancer has spread to his bones. The development is serious and will require five weeks of radiation therapy along with hormone treatment.
A spokesperson for the former president, 82, confirmed on Saturday that Biden will undergo radiation therapy and has already begun taking hormone medication. His medical team described the condition as “aggressive but hormone-sensitive,” allowing for what they called “effective management.”
The update follows Biden’s earlier announcement in May that his prostate cancer had metastasized to his bones. He was also treated for skin cancer last month and was seen with a bandage on his forehead while attending public events.
According to his office, a “small nodule” on his prostate was first discovered during a routine physical after he experienced increasing urinary symptoms, prompting further evaluation. Doctors later diagnosed “prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason Score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.”
A Gleason score of nine indicates one of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
While the condition is serious, his office noted that the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management.
Prostate cancer is common among older men. More than half of cases occur in those over 65, according to the American Cancer Society.
Personal and Political Aftermath
Biden, 83, made history as the oldest president ever elected and the oldest to leave office. Questions surrounding his health and age were among the key reasons he ended his reelection campaign in 2024, clearing the way for then–Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket.
In the months since stepping down, sources told The Washington Post that Biden remains bitter about dropping out of the 2024 race and regularly debates with his team about how to respond to President Donald Trump’s actions and policies.
Family Tragedy and Legacy
The Biden family has faced profound losses to cancer before. His eldest son, Beau Biden, died in 2015 from glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain cancer diagnosed two years earlier. The former president has long linked his son’s illness to exposure to toxic military burn pits during his service in Iraq.
Officials have not announced additional treatment phases or changes to his current care plan, indicating that the situation remains consistent with disclosures made in late 2025.
